CVE-2026-46213: Linux kernel · HID: appletb-kbd: fix UAF in inactivity-timer cleanup path
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High · patch available : patch Linux kernel soon.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 14:05 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 2% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 28 May 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 26 Oct 2026.
What to do
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux@7.0.0-28.28?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws@7.0.0-1008.8?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure@7.0.0-1009.9?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde@7.0.0-1008.8?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp@7.0.0-1008.8?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-gkepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gke@7.0.0-1003.4?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
AI-suggested
A patch is available and should be applied to affected Linux kernel versions. The fix reorders the driver tear-down sequence to prevent use-after-free conditions by ensuring the inactivity timer is deleted and drained before device references are dropped. Users should update to the fixed kernel versions as per the vendor advisory. No additional mitigations are specified or required beyond applying the official fix.
Description
A use-after-free (UAF) vulnerability in the Linux kernel's HID appletb-kbd driver was fixed. The flaw involved improper handling of the inactivity timer during driver tear-down, allowing a timer callback to access freed memory. This could lead to memory corruption and potentially escalate privileges. The issue was addressed by reordering cleanup operations to ensure the timer is deleted and drained before device references are dropped, preventing re-arming of the timer on freed memory.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-46213 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-46213 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/4db2af929279c799b5653a39eb0795c72baffca4 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/4db2af929279c799b5653a39eb0795c72baffca4 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/59a79938ca5541fe55d675304116b7ea684afef0 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/93d989e47bc316c793a69c6a332e053c90e29f02 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8566-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8568-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8569-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8593-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8603-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8618-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8663-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8664-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8728-1 (opens in a new tab)